Justin Vernon Says Bon Iver Is "No Longer Winding Down"

Says he's "definitely" been working on new music

Photo by Charlotte Zoller

Back in 2012, Bon Iver's Justin Vernon said the band was "winding it down" for an extended break. Last year, he said there were no new plans for a Bon Iver album or tour (though the band will tour Asia this year). But in a new interview with Billboard, Vernon gave an update on the band's status: "I'm no longer winding down." He added, "I've definitely been working on new music."

As they did last year, Bon Iver will perform at the Eaux Claires Festival, which is organized by Vernon and the National's Aaron Dessner. (It takes place August 12 and 13.) He spoke about the upcoming performance in the context of working on new music:

You know, we’re not just gonna play the same set we did last year. I’ve been working on music, you know, man. It takes a long time, and I’m not sure exactly what it is or what it means to me, and until that happens I won’t really know exactly what sharing it will look like or feel like or when. There’s sort of this internal pressure, not from anybody but myself, to come out with new music for the festival. But I’m not gonna make myself do anything. I really have to take it step by step and have patience and know that the music—if it comes out, it’s gotta be really true, it’s gotta really live with the other records and extend from them and be reborn and all that.

He also spoke about the band's hiatus:

The last few years have given me a lot of perspective. It’s been valuable. But I’d rather be busy, and I’d rather be engaged. I learned a lot of lessons. I learned a lot about what this stuff can do to people and how it can change how people set their priorities. I’m not interested in having my priorities all screwed up.